I know your works!

I just love it when the Holy Spirit lays some revelation knowledge on me.  Today is such a day.  In reading through Revelation 2 and 3 I noticed something that I have never noticed before.  Check this out!

Revelation 2:1-2(NKJV)

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 

“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 

As you know, Jesus appears to John in a vision and has John record Revelation.  In chapters 2 and 3 Jesus is speaking to each of the seven churches.  Jesus says to each one, "I know your works". 

Think about that.  We know that faith is a big deal to God and Jesus.  In fact we can't be saved without it.  I also believe that it says somewhere that it is impossible to please God without faith, although I could be wrong on that one because I am going on memory. 

So what I found so interesting about this is that Jesus focuses on works instead of faith when He addresses each of the churches. 

Why do you think that is? 

My guess is that as I have pointed out before, while we are all saved by faith, our rewards in Heaven will be determined by how much service (works) we provide to God in our lives.  Here is a verse to back that up.

Revelation 2:23(NKJV)

I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

Notice Jesus doesn't say "I will give to each one of you according to your faith".  He says "And I will give to each of you according to your works.". 

In Romans 5:3-5 we are told to glory in our tribulations.  As I have written in the past, I think by doing so, our joy in the face of adversity is simply and outward manifestation of our inner faith.  I think we can apply the same reasoning to this is of works. 

Our works on God's behalf are just another example of and outward manifestation of our faith and commitment to God.

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

10:29 AM

I just love it when the Holy Spirit lays some revelation knowledge on me.  Today is such a day.  In reading through Revelation 2 and 3 I noticed something that I have never noticed before.  Check this out!

Revelation 2:1-2(NKJV)

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 

“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 

As you know, Jesus appears to John in a vision and has John record Revelation.  In chapters 2 and 3 Jesus is speaking to each of the seven churches.  Jesus says to each one, "I know your works". 

Think about that.  We know that faith is a big deal to God and Jesus.  In fact we can't be saved without it.  I also believe that it says somewhere that it is impossible to please God without faith, although I could be wrong on that one because I am going on memory. 

So what I found so interesting about this is that Jesus focuses on works instead of faith when He addresses each of the churches. 

Why do you think that is? 

My guess is that as I have pointed out before, while we are all saved by faith, our rewards in Heaven will be determined by how much service (works) we provide to God in our lives.  Here is a verse to back that up.

Revelation 2:23(NKJV)

I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

Notice Jesus doesn't say "I will give to each one of you according to your faith".  He says "And I will give to each of you according to your works.". 

In Romans 5:3-5 we are told to glory in our tribulations.  As I have written in the past, I think by doing so, our joy in the face of adversity is simply and outward manifestation of our inner faith.  I think we can apply the same reasoning to this is of works. 

Our works on God's behalf are just another example of and outward manifestation of our faith and commitment to God.

Standing on the promises of God

Before you can stand on the promises of God you need to know what those promises are don't you?  I have a general sense of what God's promises are but I thought it might be interesting to catalog them and group them by subject so that when I am facing this situation or that, I will have specific promises to hang my faith on.

Here are 5 promises from my reading today in Revelation 2.  One of the things I have written about in the past and I find true in the verses today is that God's promises are always conditional.  They aren't automatic.  So if you are going to stand on the promises of God wouldn't it be helpful to know that the conditions are of the specific promises you are standing on?  I certainly think so.  Hopefully this catalog of verses will help with that.
 

Revelation 2:7(NKJV)

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’

Revelation 2:10(NKJV)

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Revelation 2:11(NKJV)

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’

Revelation 2:17(NKJV)

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’

Revelation 2:26(NKJV)

And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—

God is….Jealous

There are eleven uses of the word Jealous and 8 of them are in reference to God being jealous of us worshipping other gods.  Here are three examples.  Give them a read and I share some thoughts on the other side.

Exodus 20:4-6(NKJV)

    “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 

you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 

but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Exodus 34:13-14(NKJV)

But you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images 

(for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), 

Nahum 1:2(NKJV)

     God is jealous, and the Lord avenges;      The Lord avenges and is furious.     The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries,     And He reserves wrath for His enemies;

OK, some thoughts.

The first thing that comes to mind is why does God even care?  Why is it such a big deal to Him?  In the greater scheme of things we are so insignificant.  Do you care what an ant thinks about anything you do?  In one regard we are like the ants in comparison to God.  So why does He really care if we worship Him or not?

My guess is that the reason it is so important to Him is that He chose us as His people.  He chose us for special treatment and benefits.  God sacrificed for us.  And many rejected Him.  He takes that personally.

As I have written before, God doesn't take a live and let live view of things when people reject Him.  God takes that personally.  At the point that people are given a chance to choose and they reject God they have essentially called God a liar.  In doing so they have declared themselves to be an enemy of God.

Which brings up another point.  "And He reserves wrath for His enemies".  Now you know one of my principals of Bible study is that God and Jesus are always in agreement.  So how do you square God reserving wrath for His enemies with Jesus' admonition to love our enemies?  Is that a contradiction or can you do both at the same time?

My belief is that they are not a contradiction.  At the point that someone has rejected God and made themselves an enemy of God, they chose to face God's wrath.    However God loves them enough that if they apologize and ask God to come back into their lives; God will do so.  However, if they never do so then that is a choice they made to continue to be enemies of God.  They rejected God's love, God didn't withhold it from them. 

That is how I see the difference.  Make sense?     

A different take.

We all know that we are heirs with Christ.  But here is a passage from Revelation that puts it a little differently.  I love how the Holy Spirit brings different things to your attention.  I've read Revelation more times than I can remember and I have even done a Revelation Bible study or two and I don't ever remember noticing this wording before.

Revelation 1:5-6(NKJV)

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 

and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The first part, "to Him who loved us and washed us from our sins with His own blood,…" is obviously a reference to Jesus.  "and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father".  That is what I had never noticed before.  It tells us that Jesus made us kings and priest to God.  I don't really get the king part.  The priest part makes sense because we all have a direct line to God and can minister to Him and for Him. 

I guess the overall thing I get from it was that Jesus elevated us to kings and priests.  He didn't lower us to poor and dejected.  Which actually just triggered another thought. 

The New Testament says "the poor shall inherit the earth".  It says similar things in several places.  And most people, including myself have always thought that was meant as a good thing.

Well if that is the case, then why does Jesus elevate us to kings and priests.  Doesn't He want us to inherit the earth? 

It now occurs to me that maybe it wasn't meant to be a positive thing.  I have always thought that the verses were referring to spiritually poor, not monetarily poor.  Revelation tells us that the old earth will be swept away and a new heaven and earth will take its place.  If that is the case, then maybe it is saying that the "spiritually poor" will inherit the earth INSTEAD of enjoying heaven. 

I'm going to have to study this new idea a bit more and see where it takes me. 

Is Jude telling us to…gasp…judge? :)

For those of you who have read my blog for a while you know I am being facetious.  Lots of people like to quote the "do not judge" Scripture without realizing that there are way more Scriptures that tell us to make a judgement.  This is one such Scripture.

Jude 1:22-23(NKJV)

And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 

but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

That Scripture very clearly is telling us that some deserve compassion…and some don't and it is up to us to determine who does and who doesn't.  That requires that we make a distinction.  Another way of saying that is that we need to make a judgement. 

I've always loved this verse!

3 John 1:2(NKJV)

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 

Take care of your soul and everything else falls into place!

I love the simple signs!

Hows this for making it simple? 

2 John 1:7-8(NKJV)

For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 

Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.

Pretty simple.  If someone does not believe that Jesus was an actual living human being, don't take spiritual advice from them.